Use of lures with a mix of sweet and fetid odors for catching Musca domestica L. in domestic environments

Abstract

The housefly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera; Muscidae), is an insect closely associated with human activities in urban and rural environments and is thus a crucial factor in the transmission of various fecal–oral pathogens. The use of traps for monitoring and controlling these species in indoors is often limited by the fetid nature of the chemical attractants commonly used. A recent study demonstrated the attraction of houseflies to terpenoids, which are perceived by humans as a sweet odor. The aim of this study was to test pleasant smelling compounds such as terpinolene, α-terpinene and linalool mixed with others (acetic, butyric, isovaleric and hexanoic acid, indole and dimethyl trisulfide) known to attract houseflies to obtain a lure that could be acceptable in domestic environments. Experiments were carried out in the laboratory, using olfactometer, and in two rooms of 32 m3 and 108 m3, each resembling domestic environments using trap bioassays. The results showed that the volatile blend tested elicited attraction in the olfactometer and increased the number of flies captured by the traps. In the smaller room, the lure demonstrated efficacy for two weeks from the start of the experiment, while in the larger room the number of captured flies was higher than in the control traps only during the first week. The results confirmed the attraction of the flies to the traps baited with the blend, the application of the lures in domestic environments can be taken into consideration as a new alternative tool for trapping this pest.